Tears Accompany Ditka's Return, Too

January 29, 1997|By Don Pierson, Tribune Pro Football Writer.

NEW ORLEANS — There were tears in Mike Ditka's eyes as soon as he stepped onto the stage Tuesday as the latest coach of the New Orleans Saints, just as there were tears when he stepped off as coach of the Bears in 1992.

"I thought this would be real easy, but it's not," Ditka said.

Speaking from notes, he talked about pride and heart and challenges and will, quoting Vince Lombardi and adding: "I know that's corny, but what else is there in life? If you're not idealistic, what the hell else is there? And I'm an idealistic guy."

On Monday, the Saints said they received 200 orders for season tickets, some from Chicago.

"Compared to our experience from last year, that's huge," said Greg Suit, Saints vice president of marketing.

It didn't take Ditka long to get feisty with reporters probing his former association with Casino Magic in Bay St. Louis, Miss., 50 miles from New Orleans. For two years, 1994-95, Ditka was flown to the casino each week during the football season to participate in a radio show.

"He chaired a golf tournament that brought in high rollers," radio host Buddy Diliberto said.

Ditka said he understands NFL rules prohibit association with gambling.

"There will be none of those anymore. At the time, I was not working in the NFL," Ditka said. "I would say I've never wagered on any sporting event in my life. I am inclined to go to a casino and roll dice. I guess that makes Lombardi bad for being one of the great horse wagerers in the country. When I go on a golf course, I don't play the $5 Nassau. When I play with Michael Jordan, it's a little more than five bucks."

Ditka, 57, realizes a return to coaching is a gamble. But he wanted one last shot so badly that he didn't mind filling out one of the infamous applications sent by Saints owner Tom Benson to prospective coaches in order to allow background checks, according to Benson.

"I did everything," Ditka said.

But Bill Kuharich, named Saints chief operating officer, president and general manager on Tuesday, already had Ditka on his list while his own future was being decided by Benson.

Kuharich, 43, was a ballboy for the Philadelphia Eagles when Ditka played for Kuharich's father, Joe, in 1967-68.

"He was a tough, ornery, son of a gun," Kuharich said of Ditka. "He didn't take any bull from anybody--players, coaches, opponents, ballboys, equipment people."

Now, Ditka will take orders from Kuharich, as Benson has structured his organization. Orders may be too strong a word, but already Ditka asked for more money for his assistant coaches, and Kuharich said no.

Ditka, who got a three-year contract, announced ex-Bears coaches Danny Abramowicz as offensive coordinator and Zaven Yaralian as defensive coordinator, Rick Venturi as assistant head coach/linebackers and Bobby April as special-teams coach. He is bringing in ex-Bears offensive line coach Dick Stanfel, former Bills defensive coach Walt Corey and former Rams defensive coordinator Willie Shaw for interviews.

Ditka talked to Walter Payton Tuesday and invited him to training camp in LaCrosse, Wis., "to show our running backs how to block. I didn't say how to run because he was the best blocker I've ever seen."

Payton would have to resign as a Bears board member to do that.

"Mike is going to argue, but once Bill Kuharich says, `Here's your budget for coaching,' then that's it. He's with you. He doesn't pout. He goes forward," Benson said.

"I just can't hardly believe how he fell out of heaven."

Kuharich contacted Ditka on Sunday, Jan. 19, and set up a meeting with Benson the next day in San Antonio. Ditka said he was assured ahead of time that he was their man, but all three men agreed Ditka still had to be convinced he was doing the right thing. Even after agreeing to terms at that meeting, Ditka said he had qualms on the return flight.

"I thought, `What am I doing?' " he said.

"He had a pretty good life going," Benson said. "Playing a lot of golf and making a lot of money. He didn't fill out the application until he met with Bill Kuharich. He still wasn't sure he wanted to do it."

Asked if Ditka would take a pay cut, Benson said: "He could have. I know he'll be working a lot harder."

An estimate of Ditka's contract is three years, $5 million. Benson said there are incentives for winning that would put him "right up there when we win the Super Bowl," with the going rate of close to $2 million a year.